Youth would Leave BiH for Job Opportunity

23 May 2008

If they had an opportunity, 57 percent of the youth population in Bosnia and Herzegovina would leave the country for seasonal work abroad; 49 percent would go out to study; 48 would move permanently abroad; - show the results of the survey Analysis of Status of Youth and Youth Sector in BiH, conducted by the Commission for Coordination of Youth Issues in BiH, on a sample of 1,500 citizens between the ages of 16 and 30.

The young population in Bosnia and Herzegovina are not satisfied with the levels of technical equipment levels of their schools and the lack of practical, hands-on education. One in four persons that started higher education drops out early, which is far above the European average. They listed financial problems as the main reason for dropping out of school.

Youth unemployment in the country is 58.5 percent, almost four times greater than in the countries of the EU. One in four employed work in jobs that differ from their qualifications.

Almost 95 percent of the youth believes that bribes are needed in BiH to get a job. One in two young women believes women are discriminated in the labour market.

About 35 percent of the youth says they never travelled abroad, and those who did, mostly went to neighbouring countries. Also, 40 percent of the polled don`t hold a passport.

The aging trend in BiH is faster than in the EU. The country has higher ratio of young people between 15 and 30 years of age in the general population than the EU, but percentage of population between 30 and 39 years of age, considered the most productive and active in the labour market, is much lower than in the EU.

The ratio of men and women between 20 and 24 years of age with completed high school is at the EU average. On the other hand, there are more women than men enrolled in higher education institutions in the country.